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Thursday, May 15, 2008

Democrats Kill Legislation That Would Open Up Colorado Oil Shale

Because nothing says “we want to help the American with gas prices” like blocking the development of new oil resources.

The Senate Appropriations Committee today narrowly defeated Sen. Wayne Allard’s attempt to end a moratorium related to oil shale development in Colorado. . . .

The moratorium prevents the Department of Interior from issuing regulations so that oil companies can move forward on oil-shale projects in Colorado and Utah. Allard said the moratorium has left uncertainties at a time when companies need to move forward and in the long term make the United States more energy independent.

“If we are really serious about reducing pain at the pump, this is a vote that would make a difference in people’s lives,” Allard argued.

But in a 14-15 vote, the committee spilt strictly on party lines and rejected the amendment.

When the Democrats tell you they care about high gas prices, or that they want to make us independent of foreign oil, don’t believe ‘em.

Actions speak louder than words.

Comments

No drilling, no pumping, no digging, nothing.  Maybe some people will vote these partisans out of office.  We will see.


Communism is evil

Chief RZ on May 15, 2008 at 07:32 pm

These high gas prices?  No problem.  Obama’s gonna fix this with his ‘negotiations’ with the middle-east tyrants.


The Supreme Court is a bunch of black robed tyrants

docdave on May 15, 2008 at 08:00 pm

Having again blocked exploration and drilling for more oil in Alaska, the Gulf of Mexico, and the coastal shelf on both the east and west coasts, and now Colorado, the Democrats are gonna have some serious ‘splaining to do if the price of crude hits $200 in a year or two and gas goes to $5.00 a gallon and beyond. 

Bringing even known reserves on line takes time.  Years, in fact.  Mr. Bush will be long gone from the White House.  But the economies of China, India, the Asian “Tigers” and “new” Europe will still be growing.  STill demandingmore and more energy to power that grwoth.  Hopefully, the US economy will also be growing, in spite of the Democrats.

So who they gonna blame then?  Hmmm?


“Poverty of goods is easily cured; poverty of the mind is irreparable.”

Bat One on May 15, 2008 at 08:27 pm
Avatar for billybob68

Oil drilling is not the biggest problem, maybe you should research a little more into refineries and post up here when the last one was built. The oil supply is not the biggest problem it’s the oil companies setting up shutdowns at the same time to boost prices, and lack of refineries. I am sure you can figure out a way to blame someone in office now for something that has not been built since the 1970s.

billybob68 on May 15, 2008 at 08:27 pm

billybob,

There is no denying the need for more refineries.  We haven’t built a new one in over 30 years… paradoxically the same amount of time since we last built a nuclear power plant too.

But our refining capacity has little bearing on the world market price of crude oil.  More $3.65 gas isn’t the answer most people are looking for.


“Poverty of goods is easily cured; poverty of the mind is irreparable.”

Bat One on May 15, 2008 at 08:37 pm

This is another point upon which McC and the Democrats are in total agreement.

Politicians on all sides keep mewling about how America has to end its dependence on foreign oil, then stab us in the back.


Una Salus Victus Nullam Sperare Salutem

2Hotel9 on May 16, 2008 at 04:08 am

2hotel9:  McCain has said that he believes states should decide how, when and where to tap energy resources and that the federal government should keep it’s nose out of states rights.

That position hardly puts him in line with Obama.


"Here lies, in honored glory, an American soldier, known but to God.”

The stakes are high. Whether the issue is the economy, or energy, or the federal courts or national security, the right answers are coming not from the Democrats, but from the Republicans. The surge of operations that began a year ago is succeeding. The only way to lose this fight is to quit. Richard M. Cheney, Vice President, 30 May, 2008

pparets on May 16, 2008 at 04:12 am

OK. Show me where, in 25 years in Congress, McC has ever done anything to make that happen? How many times has he stood against Dept of Interior and EPA for the states rights to so choose?


Una Salus Victus Nullam Sperare Salutem

2Hotel9 on May 16, 2008 at 04:19 am

billybob68 - The oil supply is not the biggest problem it’s the oil companies setting up shutdowns at the same time to boost prices...

What are you talking about here?

likwidshoe on May 16, 2008 at 06:17 am

My only question is why weren’t these things brought up for vote time and time again when the REPUBLICANS were the majority?

They tried once and folded, it seems to me!

golfmann on May 16, 2008 at 06:38 am

golfman,

The single greatest force in the universe is inertia!

In this case, “...I’m not in any danger of not getting re-elected.  Why should I go out on a limb?” You will notice, as with Democrats, the lack of principle behind that statement.

The good guys, the ones who led the 1994 takeover of Congress, the ones with principle, have pretty much all got out in disgust… much as they said they would.  Its the liberals who believe in a permanent ruling class.


“Poverty of goods is easily cured; poverty of the mind is irreparable.”

Bat One on May 16, 2008 at 07:05 am

Byron Dorgan is a member of the Senate Appropriations Committtee, chairman of the Energy subcommittee. So once again he’s voted to block domestic energy development.

If you’re ever at a meeting where he talks about “energy independence,” jeer him, please.

Pomerdorgrad on May 16, 2008 at 07:24 am

Lik, he is referring to refinery shutdowns, which are done in order to do major maintenance and to shift from one formulation of fuel to another. As required by the EPA/Federal government.

US refining capacity is far below our needs, hence we are purchasing substantial amounts of refined product. Instead of refining our own.


Una Salus Victus Nullam Sperare Salutem

2Hotel9 on May 16, 2008 at 07:41 am

To help Billybob out:

Price of crude: about $120/barrel, or about $2.40 per gallon of useful fuel.  (55 gallon barrel, one gallon in 12 needed to heat the rest of the mix to refine it)

Taxes: about forty cents per gallon.

In other words, before you even get to the costs of refining, transporting, and storing the fuel at gas stations (among other costs), you are already at $2.80 or so per gallon.

Please.  Let’s stop the absurd talk about “collusion” to jack of gas prices.  You shut down your refinery, you get no revenue from it.  The high price of gas is explained fully by the price of crude, refining and transportation costs, and taxes.

Bike Bubba on May 16, 2008 at 01:35 pm

A barrel of oil is 42 gallons. 


What’s going to happen to US industry when the global warming extremists like John McCain double the price of electricity?  I would think all these factories will close and set up in countries where they aren’t scared of technology.


The Whistler's signature
The Whistler on May 16, 2008 at 01:49 pm

Thanks for the correction.  Now the numbers, corrected:

$3/gallon for the fuel, $.40/gallon for taxes, and profit, delivery, and refining has a princely thirty cents per gallon.

(*)&wink(&wink oil companies for giving us a great product at a reasonable price!

Bike Bubba on May 16, 2008 at 01:54 pm

Maybe this is where Mike got the 55 gallon barrel.  From your wiki link:

A 44-gallon drum (known as a 55-gallon drum in America, and increasingly in Australia as a 200-litre drum) is a cylindrical container (drum) with a nominal capacity of 44 imperial gallons, 55 U.S. gallons, or 200 litres. The exact capacity varies with wall thickness and other factors. Standard drums are 22.5 inches (572 mm) in diameter and 33.5 inches (850 mm) high


The Supreme Court is a bunch of black robed tyrants

docdave on May 16, 2008 at 01:58 pm

That’s clear.


What’s going to happen to US industry when the global warming extremists like John McCain double the price of electricity?  I would think all these factories will close and set up in countries where they aren’t scared of technology.


The Whistler's signature
The Whistler on May 16, 2008 at 02:03 pm
Avatar for billybob43

Refineries DO have an impact on high gas prices. Last year they said high gas prices were due to the refineries not being able to keep up with demand. That tells us that there aren’t enough refineries. Simple answer: build more. As far as this b.s. blaming dems for preventing Americans from having lower gas prices - Total lame excuse! #1 No one here has a transcript of what was said at this meeting of the Senate Appropriatiuons Committee. So to suggest that democrats voted against this for political reasons is being ignorant. If there were serious environmental reasons, then I agree totally with the dems. #2 The world needs to be weaned off oil anyway. Oil refineries produce loads of pollution. Our dependence on foreign oil certainly is a problem. However, I can’t help but wonder if gas prices would be any lower if we got all our oil from this country. Oil companies and refineries would be making big bucks (which is why Bush/Cheney and some other Republicans want to drill in places like Alaska and Colorado). The Republicans aren’t concerned about how much is paid at the pump, they are concerned about making money.
#3 I sure am not going to support more money for those involved in the oil business!

billybob43 on June 6, 2008 at 09:52 am
Avatar for Jack Black

I agree with Billybob.

This is just another propaganda piece from the conservatives. Military wants oil because it’s practically their bread and butter! Conservatives want oil because it makes them or their cronies rich. Oil for military may be necessary, but oil for everything else can be replaced with something else.

Calling the dems “communist” is ridiculous. The word “communist” has been wrongly applied to leftists in the dictionary and elsewhere. Leftists=Communists is a matter of opinion, not fact! If anybody is a Commy it’s Bush and his cronies. They succeeded in stripping away Americans rights/freedoms and they want to make everyone a puppet!

Jack Black on June 6, 2008 at 10:13 am

and they want to make everyone a puppet!

Coming from a sock puppet that’s pretty funny.

Jack Black and Billy Bob have the same IP and hence are the same person. 

You really have to be quite the moron to think that agreeing with yourself makes your argument any more valid.

What it does is expose yourself and your argument as being stupid and dishonest.


What’s going to happen to US industry when the global warming extremists like John McCain double the price of electricity?  I would think all these factories will close and set up in countries where they aren’t scared of technology.


The Whistler's signature
The Whistler on June 6, 2008 at 10:19 am

Perhaps it would like to list for us exactly WHAT will replace petroleum? Lets us hear it, suckpuppet.


Una Salus Victus Nullam Sperare Salutem

2Hotel9 on June 6, 2008 at 05:26 pm
Avatar for Corky Boyd

The moratorium prevents the Department of Interior from issuing regulations so that oil companies can move forward on oil-shale projects in Colorado and Utah. Allard said the moratorium has left uncertainties at a time when companies need to move forward and in the long term make the United States more energy independent.

I’m confused.  If they haven’t any regulations, there should be no restrictions.

Corky Boyd on June 13, 2008 at 01:57 pm

The moratorium blocks drilling, regulations control how it is done. Lift the moratorium and the existing regulations will apply.


Una Salus Victus Nullam Sperare Salutem

2Hotel9 on June 13, 2008 at 02:31 pm

Corky, the trick is that the shale is on federal land, so a failure to release regulations for proceedings is exactly the same as “no way.”

Whistler, how do you figure out the IP of a particular commenter?

Bike Bubba on June 16, 2008 at 07:50 am

The world needs to be weaned off oil anyway.

Starting with you, billybobjackblacksockpuppet! Stop driving your car. Don’t use anything made from plastic. Oh, and refuse to buy anything (including groceries) that haven’t been brought to your local market via horseback or donkey cart. That’ll show ‘em!



A troll is someone who only wants to stir up trouble, not have an honest debate.  Some signs that a poster is a troll:
* Dodges questions from other posters * Refuses to give sources
* When one of its arguments is shown to be false, either ignores the proof or moves the goalposts.  Heh. (From the LGF faq)

Proof on June 16, 2008 at 07:59 am
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